Vikings RB Dalvin Cook Out for Season with Torn ACL

The Minnesota Vikings were dealt a huge blow on Monday when it was learned that rookie running back Dalvin Cook will miss the remainder of the season after suffering an ACL tear on Sunday. Cook is slated to undergo season-ending surgery on his injured left knee.

Cook was forced to leave Sunday’s loss to the Detroit Lions early in the third quarter after suffering a non-contact injury. Cook went down in a heap and had to be helped off the field. He suffered the injury while making a cut after a 10-yard run up the middle. Cook fumbled on the play after getting hurt.

Vikings Injury Issues

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was optimistic that Cook’s knee did not sustain any further injuries, “Like on most of these ACLs, there’s a little bit of cartilage, meniscus. It’s a normal, typical ACL tear.”

Injuries are nothing new for the Vikings. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater still has not returned to the field after suffering a devastating non-contact knee injury 13 months ago during training camp. Bridgewater’s replacement, Sam Bradford, has missed each of the last three games after suffering a knee injury of his own after Week 1.

Latavius Murray Takes Over

Former Raider Latavius Murray will now likely handle the bulk of the carries for Minnesota with Cook sidelined for the season. Murray signed a three-year deal worth $15 million as a free agent during the offseason after spending the first several seasons of his career in Oakland. The Vikings may also look to add another free agent to help Murray shoulder the workload.

Murray’s playing time has been limited since he dealt with an ankle injury in the preseason. The 27-year-old has logged just 14 carries for 38 yards through the first four games of the regular season. Last year, he tallied 788 yards on 195 carries as the primary back for the Raiders. He also scored 12 touchdowns.

Cook averaged around 18 carries per game before going down with the injury, though it’s unknown whether Murray will be able to handle a similar workload as he works his way back into game shape. Murray will get his first crack at the starting gig for Minnesota when they take on the Chicago Bears next Monday night.

Murray had seven carries for 21 yards after Cook left with his injury.

Vikings Odds

The Vikings have alternated wins and losses through the first four games of the season. They picked up an impressive 29-19 win over the New Orleans Saints in the opener, but the loss of Bradford due to his aforementioned injury has forced the Vikings’ offense to try and rediscover itself on the fly. The loss of Cook, who had been averaging nearly five yards per carry along with a pair of touchdowns through three games, won’t help matters, either.

The injuries haven’t helped Minnesota’s Super Bowl chances, either. The Vikings opened at 25-1 to win Super Bowl LII before the season. In light of the injuries to Bradford and now Cook, Minnesota has dropped a bit to 35-1.